Early Grief
For some people, very early grief feels like trying to breathe underwater. Grief can make life feel disorienting. These are a few things that may help you get through those hard days.
Eat something, even if it’s just crackers. Just get something in your body.
Stop apologizing. You don’t owe anyone a tidy version of your pain.
Say no to things. You don’t need to show up for everything or everyone right now.
Find a person. One safe person who won’t try to fix it. Just listens. (Our groups have great listeners.)
Let the weird things happen. Talking to the air. Carrying their shirt around.
Cry. Or don’t. Grief doesn’t always look like sobbing. Sometimes it’s silence, or rage or forgetfulness.
Sleep if you can. And if not, at least rest. Your body is doing hard work.
Remember: there’s no timeline. You’re not “behind” in grief. You’re in it.
I didn’t do any of it perfectly. I still don’t. But these little things helped me keep going when I wasn’t sure I could. If you’re in that place right now where you feel like you are barely holding it together, you’re not doing it wrong, you’re just grieving.
Watch the raw and honest The Reality of Loss created by Megan Devine of Refuge for Grief.
~ With care
Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
NEW GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT
We’re excited to officially welcome the long standing Natick peer grief support group, The Journey, to The Sun Will Rise Foundation. This group has been meeting for years and is now part of our growing network of support for those bereaved due to substance use related causes. Facilitator Kathryn Peirce, who has been compassionately leading the group, also began facilitating our Auburn group a few months ago. We’re so glad to have her and the the members who came over with her as part of our larger community of support. The group is meeting Tuesday 7/29/25, if you live in the Metrowest area, you are invited to join in this wonderful support!
Find the most up-to-date meeting info, ZOOM links and LOCATION info all in one place! Please check the calendar regularly…last-minute changes can happen.
Click here to open the calendar
If you’re receiving this email, you do not need to pre-register again.
New Natick MA in-person group starts this week.
Gloucester MA hybrid group, will only meet via zoom and not in person this month.
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Storytelling Through Grief: Finding Healing and Hope. Four-session virtual workshop led by award-winning Storyteller Meghann Perry. 8/7/25, 8/14/25 8/21/25, & 9/4/25 SOLD OUT! Wait list available here. Questions? Email robyn@thesunwillrise.org
Tall Ship Cruise Saturday 8/16/25 12:00 pm. Seaport Boston MA. Set sail with us aboard The Liberty Star, a 67-foot wooden schooner designed as a replica of an 1890s coastal sailing vessel. Limit: 4 tickets per family. Reserve Your Spot HERE
Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. Questions? Contact Natalie at 774-955-7752 jeepgirl474@gmail.com We’d love to have you with us for this peaceful and meaningful afternoon on the water.
Butterfly Release & International Overdose Awareness Day Ceremony. Saturday 8/23/25 10:00 am. Braintree MA. In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, we invite you to take part in our annual Butterfly Release Ceremony. Each guest will receive a live butterfly to release and/or a packet of wildflower seeds to plant in memory of a loved one. This day is a global observance that raises awareness about overdose, honors the people who have died and supports those who live with grief. We gather to remember without shame. We gather to say you are not alone. This year’s theme: One Big Family, Driven by Hope. Cost: Free- but Please RSVP by reserving a ticket for each person wanting to release a butterfly. This helps us plan how many butterflies we need. All are welcome. Let’s spread awareness. Let’s hold space. Let’s release hope. Please note, new location Sunset Lake!
Hosted by: The Sun Will Rise Foundation
Braintree Community Partnership
NEW EVENT! THE OPIOID PROJECT Changing Perceptions Through Art & Storytelling. Saturday 9/13/25 12-4 pm. Braintree MA The Opioid Project consists of a 4-hour art making and audio storytelling workshop where participants create collages and share personal stories. The art and recorded stories contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the epidemic. The finished work is hung in community multimedia exhibitions where each artwork is paired with its audio story. NO ART EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! View some samples here.
The storytelling portion is led by physician Dr. Annie Brewster founder of Health Story Collaborative and the art portion, by visual artist Nancy Marks.
The Opioid Project provides a safe place for those affected by the opioid epidemic to explore and process their personal experiences. Through art making and storytelling and in collaboration with community partners, they strive to decrease stigma and promote positive social change through dialogue, education and advocacy.
Cost: FREE – but requires a $20 per person deposit. You’ll receive the full deposit back at the event. We ask for this to help us continue offering events like this at no cost to you. REGISTER HERE!
Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier—if cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone.
If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.
Questions? Contact Robyn at 781-789-4604 robyn@thesunwillrise.org
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Braintree Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are looking for volunteers to staff our grief support resource tables for the many International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) events that are coming up. Please let us know if you can help out at any of these IOAD events by completing this sign up form. More to come!
Aug 25th 6:00pm - Easthampton MA
Aug 26th 5:30pm - South Hadley
Aug 27th 4:00pm - Taunton MA
Aug 28th 6:00pm - Belchertown, MA
Aug 31st 6:30pm - Great Barrington MA
Aug 31st 6:30pm - Pittsfield MA
Aug 31st 6:30pm - Malden MA
HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND
Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.
LOOKING FOR THE ZOOM LINKS & MEETING INFO? CLICK HERE
Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!
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Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!
Click here to view past newsletters on our website
“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean